Apparatus for treating soil.



F. G. CARROLL.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOIL.

APPLICATION IILBD FEB.21,1911.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

man/35555 F. G. CARROLL.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOIL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1911.

1,038,084. Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wa/MML 27 7 7 E1 5 UNITED STATESRQPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. CARROLL, OlF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOIL.

To aZZ'whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, FRANK C. CARROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A paratus for Treating Soil, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

The object of the present invention'is to provide suitable means for treating the soil in a manner such that air or gas, preferably nitrogen, may be delivered to the soil under the surface thereof, wherebythe benefit may be derived directly from such elements, and

further so that, in addition to the air and gas, fertilizing material in the form of solutions may be delivered under the soil at the same time, so that they all may be taken up directly by the plant life, and still fur ther so that none of these elements may be lost by evaporation due to the sun or wind.

This invention, therefore, relates broadly to apparatus for aerating or for fertilizing and aerating the 'soil under the surface thereof preparatory to planting or after the growing things have been started.

Still more specifically the invention contemplates the use of a sulky truck or other vehicle upon which is mounted a tank of suitable size for holding a quantity of ammonia, water, liquid manure or any suitable chemical fertilizer, an air tank, suitable means operated by the wheels for supplying air to said tank and a spraying device connected to a delivery tooth adapted to run under the soil and deliver aerated liquid in the form of a spray under the soil where it may be readily absorbed by it.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth in the following description, drawings and claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device with one of the wheels removed; Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the tooth or point; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the device; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the atomizer.

Referring-to the drawings, any preferred construction and combinatlon of parts may be employed so long as they possess the necessary characteristics, but I have shown one form in the drawings which is highl effective in operation, and in such embodiment 1 Specification of Letters intent.

Application filed. February 21, 1911'. Serial No. 809,883.v

Patented Sept. 10,1912.

1 represents suitable ground wheels adapted. to ;drive a. suitable axle 2 having brackets 3' l which support a bed or frame 4 upon which all the mechanism is mounted. Mounted upon this bed 41 isa tank 5 for holding a quantity of solution for treating the soil. ;This tank is provided with a suitable charging device dthrou. h which it may be filled, and it is still furt er providedwith aconnection 7 in its bottom connected by a T .to pipes 88 which lead to the spraying 'devlces. Mounted upon the top of the tank 5, or in any suitable place, is an air tank'9 which is connected by a pipe 10 with a sup ply pump 11- having a piston rod 12 upon the end of which is a slotted member 13 receivlng a crank pin 14 carried by anarm 15 rigid with a sprocket wheel 16 driven by a chain 17 engaging a sprocket wheel 18 rigid upon the axle rotated by the wheels.

From the foregoing mechanism it will be seen that the tank 9 is charged with air by the pump 11 and any suitable pressure-may be maintained and may be indicated upon the gage 19.

There is a complete spraying or distribut-- ng mechanism for each side of-the machine 24. A pipe 25 connects the lower part. of

the casing to the rear of the end of the noz- .zle 22 with the bdttom of the tank 5. The

operation of this idevice is such that when air is supplied to; the nozzle 22 solution is drawn from the bottom of the tank 5 and projected through the connection 24 in the form of a spray. This connection is of a character such that the pipe 27 may be rotated or rocked in connection with the pipe 24. This pipe 27 is bent around and passes forward where it is connected to a swivel joint connection 28 between the pipe 27 and a delivery pipe 29 extending down to a point below the surface of the soil. The connection 28 is similar in all respects to the connection between the pipe 29 and the delivery tooth or fioint, and the details of' this connection wi be taken in connection with the point. This pipe 29 has rigidly secured to It a sleeve 30 pivoted to a lever 31 having one end pivotally mounted upon a bracket 32 secured to the frame and its OP:

posite end a handle 33 adapted to be adusted in notches 34 in a plate 35 secured to the side of'the tank 5. By means of this :the opening of the pipe side face of this member 38 is a similar conpling member 41 having an openin 42 and a chamber or recess 43 which, toget er with the chamber or recess 40, form a communication between the opening in the pipe 29 and-a channel 44 leading to a tooth or distributing point 45. A bolt 46 passes through the openings 39 and 42 and serves to hold two couplin members 38 and 41 in any adjusted positlon, and by means of this device, the tooth may be swun to the left or right as the case may be. he tooth 45 is provided with a hollow chamber 47 arranged between the sloping sides 48 and the -lower wall and this chamber is provided with discharge openings 49, alongitudinal row being arranged on each side of the center of the chamber and adapted to project or distribute the sprayed solution in diagonal directionsaway from the center. The front end of this tooth or point is provided with a digging point 50 for the ur ose of facilitating its movement througi tie soil. By the adjustment of the tooth or distributing point from one side to the other, the

discharge may'be directed in any desired direction.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that with the soil under the surface thereof. In

this way the soil is aerated; that is air is su plie to it under the surface and any sultable fertilizing or other solution may be delivered with this air to the soil, avoiding the evaporation of the solution by the action of the suns rays or wind, and brin ing the air in direct contact with the soil ad acent to the roots of the plant.

Any suitable motive power may be employed for driving the vehicle or for operating the pump.

Having described myinvention, I claim In apparatusfor treating the soil, in a vehicle, a solution tank mounted thereon, an

air tank also mounted on said vehicle, means for supplying compressed air to said tank, an atomizer connected to the air tank and solution tank, a distributing device leading from said atomizer to a point near the ground, and a distributing tooth comprising a shank swiveled to the distributing pipe, an inclined upper portion, and a receiving chamber under said upper portion and provided with discharge openings adapted to direct the discharge in lateral inclined directions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses as follows:

FRANK G. CARROLL. Witnesses:

Cmusiu-wn I-I. TRESCH, B. V. dnoonn'r'r. 

